Traveling through an airport security checkpoint with an animal can be simple when tourists understand what to anticipate. Small animals can take a trip in an airplane cabin with their owners after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers screen animals at the security checkpoint.
“Pets are often treated like family members and, as such, sometimes travel with their humans,” says Robert Duffy, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Security Director for LaGuardia Airport. “That’s why it’s valuable to become familiar with the security procedures for pets and how to go through the checkpoint security screening process quickly and easily. One of the most important things to know is that pets should never be screened through a checkpoint X-ray unit.”
Preparing for an animal to be evaluated is basic when these simple actions are followed:
- All animals must be given a security checkpoint in a hand-held travel provider.
- Remove the animal from the provider prior to the start of the screening procedure.
- Place the empty travel provider on the checkpoint conveyor belt so it can be X-rayed.
- Never put an animal in the X-ray tunnel. The X-ray at the security checkpoint just evaluates guests’ personal effects and carry-on travel luggage.
- If possible, bring the animal through the walk-through metal detector throughout the screening procedure. Alternatively, an animal can stroll through the screening procedure if the owner has the animal on a leash. Best to listen to the assistance that a TSA officer is supplying.
- A TSA officer will provide the animal owner’s hands an explosive trace detection swab to make sure there is no explosive residue on the owner’s hands.
- After the screening procedure is total, owners must return their animal to the travel provider at the re-composure location far from the security checkpoint. This place assists make sure the animals and other guests’ safety.
Pet travel limitations differ by airline company and airport, so it is very important to contact the air provider prior to taking a trip with an animal. At LaGuardia Airport, animals are just to be eliminated from their providers when being evaluated by TSA. Otherwise, animals must stay in their providers at all times, other than for licensed service animals, who are welcome throughout the airport.
Other useful travel suggestions to make a journey through security with an animal as simple as possible consist of:
- Acclimate the animal to the procedure of taking a trip by acquainting it with the travel provider in the days leading up to the journey. This orientation will help make sure the animal is more unwinded as it takes a trip through the security procedure and the airport.
- Be on the lookout for “working” dogs and handlers at the airport. Areas where it prevails to see a working dog at airports might consist of a security checkpoint or in the terminal concourse. If you come across a working canine, please think about moving to an alternate checkpoint, so there is no disturbance with a federal government working dog’s tasks.
- Know your animal’s character and make sure that you can keep control of it in a hectic and possibly congested airport. This is specifically essential for cats, who frequently get skittish when they are eliminated from their animal provider and hear and see the noises and sights of a checkpoint.
- Travelers who have animals that might be skittish when eliminated from an animal provider and might try to battle or leap away must ask for that a TSA officer screen the animal in a personal screening room. The tourist will be accompanied to the room with the animal still in its provider.
- When taking a trip with service animals and animals, it is a good concept to call your airline company straight for policy information as they differ by airline company and season.
Travelers must end up being knowledgeable about the animal relief locations at their leaving and arrival airports. Service animal/pet relief locations at LaGuardia Airport lie pre and/or post-security at each terminal. Passengers must search for check in the luggage claim locations or ask among the airport Customer Care Representatives to learn more. Please note there are no service animal/pet relief locations beyond security checkpoints at Terminal A.
